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Northwest
Senators halt Administration raid on BPA revenues
The Associated
Press reports that in a markup yesterday before the Senate Appropriations
Committee, Senators Larry Craig (R-WA), Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Conrad
Burns (R-Mont.) teamed up to prevent the Bonneville Power Administration
(BPA) from implementing a rate case that could result in a 10 percent
increase in power rates for Northwest customers.
In February, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) directed BPA to
implement a new rate case to use excess revenues to retire long-term debt
more quickly. Because the change would be made through the rulemaking
process, Congressional approval would not be needed for the rule to go into
effect. Northwest Power and Conservation Council analysis estimates that it
would result in a 10 percent rate increase that BPA would be forced to pass
on to ratepayers.
To prevent the rule from taking effect, Senators Craig, Murray and Burns
added a provision to the supplemental appropriations bill for Iraq and Hurricane Relief spending. The provision prohibits BPA from implementing OMB�s
proposal from the time the bill becomes law until April 1, 2007.
�This is not a partisan issue. This is a Northwest issue, as the support of
the entire Northwest Delegation for the amendment demonstrates,� Craig said.
�Our region was built on cheap power, and we will not allow our economy and
working families to be threatened by uninformed attempts to raise revenue for
the federal government.
�OMB�s rule fails to account for the complexities and uncertainties of
hydro-based power systems. Our amendment will call for a time-out, so the
region, Congress, OMB and the Department of Energy can work together, rather
than force a mandate from Washington, D.C.
We hope this sends a clear message to OMB to work with the Northwest
Delegation on BPA issues, rather than develop energy policy in a vacuum.�
The bill will now go to the full Senate for action.
PNWA urges Congress to maintain this provision to protect Northwest
ratepayers from unwarranted rate increases.
Staff contact: Glenn Vanselow, 503-234-8551
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Port of Seattle
presented Clean Air Excellence Award by EPA
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
has presented a Clean Air Excellence Award to the >Port of Seattle for programs to
reduce diesel emissions both at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and in
the Seattle harbor, as well as its other environmental programs. The Port
was nominated for the award by the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency.
Sea-Tac Airport has made significant
changes in technology to reduce emissions.
- The
airport operates a fleet of 64 natural gas vehicles and requires taxis
and shuttle buses to convert to the cleaner-burning fuel.
- A new
aircraft-fueling system carries fuel directly from storage tanks to
aircraft gates, eliminating the need for diesel-powered tanker trucks.
- Construction
vehicles working on the new runway are required to use lower emitting
engines and ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel.
Seattle is one of two U.S. seaports, the other is in Alaska, where
cruise lines can plug into the electrical grid at the cruise terminal,
eliminating the need to run the ships� engines while in port. Other Seattle seaport initiatives include:
- Working
with other cruise lines to switch to cleaner-burning, low-sulfur fuel.
- Making
biodiesel available to boaters at Shilshole Bay Marina, and converting
maintenance and cargo-handling equipment to biodiesel.
- Providing
on-dock rail to eliminate truck trips.
The seaport uses a 100% organic approach
to landscaping at its 19 public access parks and other properties, reducing
hazardous wastes and conserving water. Last year, the program earned a Five
Star rating from King County EnviroStars
A comprehensive airport recycling program
earned the Washington State Recycling Association�s award for Environmental
Excellence in 2003. The Port recycles airport wastes including coffee
grounds, cooking oils, paper, plastics, cans, pallets, batteries and printer
and copier cartridges. Since the program was expanded in 2001,
recycling has increased by 900%.
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Register
for PNWA Mid-Year Meeting
Registration is
now open at www.pnwa.net.
Our Mid-Year Meeting will be held on June 21-23rd, 2006 at the Salishan Lodge & Conference Center, along the coast and just minutes away from Newport, Oregon. Our evening reception will be held at the Oregon Coast Aquarium where all
exhibits will be available for viewing.
Please register and make hotel reservations as soon as possible as space is
limited. Be sure to join us to discuss current issues that are affecting the
Columbia Snake River, Oregon and Washington Coast and the Puget Sound areas.
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Revamp
of PNWA website
While
registering for our Mid-Year Meeting in June, we invite you to browse through
our new and improved website. You will notice subtle changes which enhance
your overall experience. Ease of navigation along with a variety of fact
sheets regarding navigation, salmon & the environment as well as key
issues such as Energy & Water Appropriations and the Water Resources
Development Act will keep you current on issues affecting you.
We urge you to add a PNWA link to your website and use our website for
reference materials. The fact sheets were created as a communications and
selling tool for you and your staff. If a subject or issue matter does not
have a fact sheet, please feel free to forward us recommendations. Another
section you will find is �Testimonials�. In this section, you will see what
compliments have been given to PNWA. If you would like to add your
testimonials, please forward to us and we will post it to our website.
Overall, we hope you have a good experience on our website and refer to PNWA
and our website as the source of relative information. Remember to register
for our Mid-Year Meeting! www.pnwa.net.
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Member
Highlight: Moffatt & Nichol
Moffatt &
Nichol was founded in 1945 to provide design engineering services to the
United States Navy and the growing commercial waterfront in Southern
California. Today the firm has grown from this simple beginning to be a
leader in the planning and design of the infrastructure and facilities that
surround our rivers, harbors and coastlines as well as innovators in the
transportation complexities associated with the movement of freight.
Operating out of 22 offices in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, Moffatt & Nichol employs over 300 professionals in areas as diverse as
transportation planning to economics to marina design. The firm is one of the
few to maintain an econometrics group that provides clients with project
financing analysis and freight economics. We offer industry leading port and
container terminal planning to compliment our traditional waterfront
structural business. We have sophisticated computer modelling capabilities to
support our coastal and water resource practice in addition to habitat
restoration and hydraulics and hydrology. Our expertise in dredging design,
beneficial reuse of dredged material and ocean structures is considered among
the best in the country.
In keeping with our understanding of the planning and design requirements
associated with basic transportation needs, we have developed a substantial
transportation practice that focuses on the design of bridge structures both
large and small. This is further enhanced by our deep foundation design
capabilities, scour analysis and bridge fendering expertise. Our
transportation practice ties in to our port business with the planning and
design of intermodal facilities and their crucial links to our seaport
clients.
With clients around the world, Moffatt & Nichol continues to face the
challenges found in today�s waterfront and transportation arenas allowing
creative people to provide our clients with practical solutions. Visit www.moffattnichol.com.
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